Antonio Gates, Chargers currently not communicating on future

Antonio Gates, Chargers currently not communicating on future

The future for legendary Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has appeared as if it may be in peril with the team for some time, and general manager Tom Telesco didn’t do much to assuage those concerns Monday when meeting with media.

“Recently? I don’t think so. No,” Telesco said during his pre-draft news conference Monday when asked if the team and Gates were in talks about the future.

Upon being pressed on if Gates had a future or role with the team, Telesco visibly shook his head a little and raised his hands in a bit of exhaustion before offering his reply.

“It’s been kind of a . . . And I understand, it’s kind of a big topic right now. I just don’t have an update on it right now,” Telesco added before shifting focus back to the 2018 NFL draft.

Gates had just 189 receiving yards and two touchdowns before his fellow TE Hunter Henry lacerated his kidney Week 15, and finished out the year strong with 10 receptions and one touchdown in Henry’s absence in Weeks 16 and 17.

“He’s [Gate’s] a pro. He shows up every day. He does his job. He’s a [Pro Football] Hall of Famer for a reason, highly productive. Earlier in the season, Hunter Henry was getting more targets, but Antonio [Gates] was always a big part of this team and a big part of this offense. When we needed him the most, he stepped up,” coach Anthony Lynn said back in January.

The 15-year veteran will be 38 years old in 2018 and currently sits at No. 6 on the NFL’s all-time touchdown reception list with 114 scores. He surpassed Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, TE Tony Gonzales’, all-time touchdown mark of 111 with his first touchdown of the year in 2017.